The XVI version of the Panamerican Surfing Games 2023 will bring together in Panama from April 21 to 30 400 athletes from 22 countries who will aim to win one of the 42 places for the Pan American Games of Santiago de Chile 2023 that will be in October, the organizers of the fair reported.

The setting of this international event will be Santa Catalina Beach in the Panamanian province of Veraguas, one of the most attractive places in the interior of the Central American country for surfers from different parts of the world.

Athletes will compete in the Shortboard (Shortboard), Longboard (Longboard) and Stand Up Paddle Surf and Stand Up Paddle Race (6 kilometers).

The short and long board events will give 24 places between the male and female branches, while the Stand Up Paddle Surf will distribute 8 places in the male and female and in the Stand Up Paddle Race it will put 10 places between the two branches on the line.

Panama has in Jean Carlos “Oli” González Camarena and Enilda Samanta Alonso, two of its greatest exponents and the hopes of holding a good championship that qualifies them for the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile.

Last year, in this competition that also took place in Panama, in Playa Venao and “Oli” Camarena won the silver medal after six rounds, so he aspires to return to the podium again.

While Samanta Alonso has won many national titles and is preparing to hold a good international tournament.

The director of the Panamanian Sports Institute (Pandeportes), Denis Arce, pointed out that this event “will impact on the sustainable growth of the economy such as employment, services and inputs” of the province of Veraguas and the country.

The Minister of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Iván Eskildsen, said that this event will leave economic returns to the country and pointed out “the importance of betting on sport as a way of sustainable development.”

He pointed out that the version of the Pan American Surfing Games 2022, in Playa Venao, Panamanian province of Los Santos, “represented two million dollars to the Panamanian economy” among hotels, food, artisans, transport, tourist guides and shopping.